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Introduction: Specialty agricultural farmers have widely adopted digital technologies in all aspects of their specialty agricultural operations. However, the effect of digital technology application (DTA) on specialty agricultural farmers' income has not been fully evaluated. Moreover, it remains unclear whether DTA enhances farmers' income (FI) by improving their varied capabilities. To fill this gap, we analyzed the intrinsic relationship and mechanism between DTA, farmers' capability (FC), and specialty agricultural farmers' income. Methods: Using field survey data from 635 litchi farmers in China, we employed OLS regression models and mediation effect models to empirically investigate DTA's direct and indirect impacts on litchi farmers' income. Additionally, we examined the group heterogeneity and regional heterogeneity. Results and discussion: The empirical results show that DTA can promote specialty agricultural farmers' income by enhancing their production capacity (PC) and transaction capacity (TC). Heterogeneity analysis showed that the empowering effect of DTA is especially significant for disadvantaged farmers, and farmers who are in specialty agricultural resources-rich regions. Conclusion: This study contributes to the body of research on the empowerment of specialty agricultural farmers by examining the effect of DTA from a capability perspective. Consequently, to better play the empowering effect of DTA for specialty agricultural farmers, policymakers should account for regional disparities in promoting digital agriculture, and enhance heterogeneous farmers' DTA capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the effects of immigrants on aggregate trade flows have been extensively examined, the role of immigrants in shaping trade in value added (TiVA) remains underexplored. Employing a panel dataset covering 38 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member host countries and 64 immigrant home countries spanning 2000–2018 and estimating a random intercept and random slope mixed-effects model, we find that immigrants play a significant role in enhancing the value added from their home countries that is embedded in their host countries' exports to the world. We document these effects at the aggregate level and across sectors (i.e., manufacturing, agriculture, and services). There is, however, considerable variation in the influence of immigrants on TiVA across country pairs. Our findings highlight that immigrants significantly enhance trade sophistication by promoting specialization and upward movement in the value chain, yielding economic benefits for their home and host countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study employs system GMM to derive the benchmark impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on labor productivity (LP) as well as the interactive effects of FDI and productive capacity index (PCI) while dynamic panel threshold technique is used to determine the threshold level of PCI. Later to check the sensitivity test, pooled mean group (PMG) methodology is applied. Using panel data from 88 countries from 2000 to 2018, we examine the effect of FDI on LP contingent on the level of PCI across two economic sectors: tradables and nontradables. Applying novel PCI, the findings demonstrate that initially FDI exacerbates LP in the above two sectors, and the improvement in PCI from FDI diminishes this detrimental impact until a threshold of PCI, and then beyond that level, FDI enhances LP. Meanwhile, the latter benefit is larger in the tradable sector than in the nontradable sector, and this beneficial effect is amplified by increased FDI inflows. A set of robustness tests were performed to corroborate the findings. Notably, the internal mechanism of PCI's eight indicators moderates the influence of FDI on LP. The study has a significant disadvantage as it spans 19 years (from 2000 to 2018). Since PCI data is not accessible before 2000 and after 2018, we have limited the investigation to this time period. The study applies novel PCI, a wide category index, to assess the host countries' absorption capacity. Furthermore, according to our knowledge, this is the first attempt to assess the impact of FDI on LP in tradable and nontradable sectors, as well as to determine the PCI threshold level at which the effect of FDI switches direction. Policy implications of this study reveal that, while FDI may not directly increase LP, PCI-backed FDI growth may imply an increase in LP. The study presents policy considerations to enable the potential role of PCI indicators in facilitating the beneficial role of FDI on LP to increase competitiveness of the host economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the published articles, the capacity and output of silicone methyl monomer, the import and export of primary polysiloxane, the revenue of listed enterprises in silicone, the new projects, the formulation of policies in silicone in 2023 were summarized, and the R&D in silicone (including R&D investment of enterprises, self-developed projects of enterprises and R&D priorities in silicones) was also introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the state of Ukraine’s military economy and forecasts of its reconstruction. It is noted that one of the ways for a country to survive is to maintain the productive capacity of its economy, which reflects the efficient use of all resources, the quality of human capital and sustainable development. The essence and approaches to assessing the productive capacity of Ukraine, in particular according to the Productive Capacities Index (PCI), have been revealed. For the development of the European KLEMS productive capacity model, a formalized model and an approach to deepening its informational component are proposed. The factors of the “technological leap” that can be drivers of the development of productive capacity have been highlighted. The authors have proposed to consider productive capacity through the prism of sustainable development and its goals (SDGs). The “ecological footprint” has been described, which as of 2021 is 73% higher than the possibility of renewing the world’s ecosystems. The paper also covers a comprehensive approach to overcoming this risk (Twin-strategy) based on a combination of economic (but only within ecological) and social determinants of sustainable development. It has been noted that a bilateral “green” and “digital” strategy for the transition to the next stage of sustainable development (Twin Transitions for Global Value Chains) is relevant. A foresight approach to reducing gaps in the development of countries’ economies using advanced “green” technologies has been described.” It is summarized that in order to increase the productive capacity, Ukraine needs to rebuild the economy on the principles of Industry 4.0 with robotized production at “smart” factories. It has been studied that according to the Frontier Technologies Readiness Index, Ukraine belongs to the group of countries with an above-average level of the index. Recommendations on research and management of production potential for the reconstruction of Ukraine’s economy and its growth in the context of a bilateral “green” and “digital” strategy of sustainable development are given.

In our study spanning 2010–2022 across 50 African economies, we investigated the effects of industrialization, labor force participation, and electrification on Africa’s productive capacity. We also examined how electrification moderates the effect of industrialization and labor force participation on productive capacity. We adopted the pooled OLS, the fixed effect estimator, and the dynamic system GMM estimation technique for our analysis. Our findings indicate industrialization, labor force participation, and electrification as potent channels for enhancing Africa's productive capacity. In tandem with Africa’s reality, we find that electrification isn’t moderating the positive impact of industrialization and labor force participation on productivity. Our findings also revealed human capital development, government health expenditure, and institutional quality as pivotal drivers of productive capacity in Africa, while factors like global economic policy uncertainty and natural resource endowment exhibit predominantly negative roles. These results underscore the need for African policymakers and leaders to foster an enabling environment that facilitates industrialization, increased labor force participation, and improved electricity access to promote economic performance and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the issue of how to increase the productive capacity of less developed and/or developing countries has been discussed by many international organizations and researchers. Development aid is one of the factors that significantly affects the productive capacity of these countries. The aim of the study is to investigate whether sectoral development aid has an impact on productive capacity. The study covers the period 2002-2018 and 84 countries. According to the findings of the analysis using the panel data analysis, Social Infrastructure and Services Aid has a statistically significant and negative effect on productivity capacity, while Production Sector Aid has a significant but positive effect. No statistically significant findings were found for Economic Infrastructure and Services Aid and Multi-Sector / Cross-Cutting Aid. GDP per capita, labor force participation rate and trade openness, which are used as control variables in the model, have statistically significant and positive effects on productivity capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the state of Ukraine’s military economy and forecasts of its reconstruction. It is noted that one of the ways for a country to survive is to maintain the productive capacity of its economy, which reflects the efficient use of all resources, the quality of human capital and sustainable development. The essence and approaches to assessing the productive capacity of Ukraine, in particular according to the Productive Capacities Index (PCI), have been revealed. For the development of the European KLEMS productive capacity model, a formalized model and an approach to deepening its informational component are proposed. The factors of the “technological leap” that can be drivers of the development of productive capacity have been highlighted. The authors have proposed to consider productive capacity through the prism of sustainable development and its goals (SDGs). The “ecological footprint” has been described, which as of 2021 is 73% higher than the possibility of renewing the world’s ecosystems. The paper also covers a comprehensive approach to overcoming this risk (Twin-strategy) based on a combination of economic (but only within ecological) and social determinants of sustainable development. It has been noted that a bilateral “green” and “digital” strategy for the transition to the next stage of sustainable development (Twin Transitions for Global Value Chains) is relevant. A foresight approach to reducing gaps in the development of countries’ economies using advanced “green” technologies has been described.” It is summarized that in order to increase the productive capacity, Ukraine needs to rebuild the economy on the principles of Industry 4.0 with robotized production at “smart” factories. It has been studied that according to the Frontier Technologies Readiness Index, Ukraine belongs to the group of countries with an above-average level of the index. Recommendations on research and management of production potential for the reconstruction of Ukraine’s economy and its growth in the context of a bilateral “green” and “digital” strategy of sustainable development are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the effects of immigrants on aggregate trade flows have been extensively examined, the role of immigrants in shaping trade in value added (TiVA) remains underexplored. Employing a panel dataset covering 38 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member host countries and 64 immigrant home countries spanning 2000–2018 and estimating a random intercept and random slope mixed-effects model, we find that immigrants play a significant role in enhancing the value added from their home countries that is embedded in their host countries’ exports to the world. We document these effects at the aggregate level and across sectors (i.e., manufacturing, agriculture, and services). There is, however, considerable variation in the influence of immigrants on TiVA across country pairs. Our findings highlight that immigrants significantly enhance trade sophistication by promoting specialization and upward movement in the value chain, yielding economic benefits for their home and host countries.

This study tests the effects of productive capacities in socio-economic factors (human capital, transport, information-communication technology, institutions, private sector, and structural change) on energy efficiency in a sample of 125 countries. Energy efficiency is assessed by energy productivity (gross domestic product per unit of total primary energy supply) and energy intensity (total primary energy supply per capita). The world sample is divided into four income groups and an income-heterogeneous control group of non-renewable-resource-dependent economies. The study utilizes cross-sectionally dependent and stationary panel data from 2000 to 2018. The analysis of variance shows that higher income groups monotonically have higher levels in socio-economic productive capacities and energy intensity. The regression results from appropriate fixed-effects and random-effects modeling reveal varied driver and barrier influences of the socio-economic factors on energy efficiency improvements (higher energy productivity and lower energy intensity). In some cases, predictors scale up both energy productivity and energy intensity indicating the issue of the rebound effect. Higher human capital capacity stimulates energy efficiency except for middle-income groups. Higher transport capacity reduces energy productivity, except for upper-middle-income economies, and increases energy intensity for low-income and middle-income groups. The deployment of information-communication technologies is positively associated with energy productivity, except for low-income economies. Energy productivity performance of resource-dependent economies is improved by higher productive capacities in institutions and private sectors but impaired by structural change, whereas structural change drives energy efficiency in low-income economies. Additionally, the growth of gross national income per capita worsens energy efficiency for resource-dependent economies. Bidirectional feedback causalities are established between energy efficiency and its predictors in most cases. The heterogeneous findings are further discussed for providing research and policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide ecological range of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) demonstrates its ability to adapt to different environments. This study aimed to assess the dynamics of growth and productivity of Scots pine stands growing on soils with crystalline parent rock outcrops. The study area is located in the north of Ukraine in the Central Polissya within 50°15’ and 50°06’ north latitudes and 29°22’ and 29°86’ east longitudes. The base of the geological structure is granite. The depth of the parent rock bedding ranges from 15 to 86 cm. In total, 18 research plots were laid out on soils with crystalline rock outcrops and 18 research plots on sites with deep bedding of crystalline rocks (> 60 cm). To test the difference in stands growth within and outside sites with the crystalline outcrops, we used the Welch t-test. Pine forests on areas with deep bedding of parent rocks are systematically higher than those growing on sites with crystalline outcrops. With an increase of stand age, the difference between specified groups tends to be more significant. Stands growing on sites with and without crystalline rocks outcrops have similar dynamics, however, the latter ones accumulate more growing stock volume due to higher relative stocking, site index, mean diameter, and the number of trees. Our findings indicate the feasibility of establishing Scots pine stands in sites with different depths of the crystalline parent rocks bedding in Central Polissya, Ukraine.

Abstract The objectives of this work were to evaluate the efficiency of visual selection in soybean under a protected environment, to determine if the ability of an evaluator to select visually depends on their experience with the crop, and to study the efficiency of visual selection of traits associated with productivity to obtain income gains. For that, three soybean populations (F3, F4, and F5) were used, composed of 20 families each, conducted in a greenhouse in a randomized block design, with three replicates and experimental units, two plants per pot. In these, five evaluators with different levels of experience with the crop made the visual selection for each plant. Evaluators differ in their ability to identify more productive plants, but this ability is not associated with the evaluator's experience with the crop. In the search for more productive soybean plants, the number of pods per plant is the characteristic that most assists visual selection, provided there is uniformity of experimental conditions and genetic variability.

Environmental degradation is one of the most important and vital issues of today. In this context, many researchers are testing the environmental impact of different indicators. Many economic parameters affect environmental degradation. At the forefront of these parameters is the productive economic structures of the countries. For the first time in the literature, the present paper discusses the dynamic relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, economic growth, and the productive capacity index (PCI) for a panel of 38 organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD) countries spanning the period 2000–2018. In this context, the PCI serves as a measure of the productive economic structure of a country. This empirical study applies panel cointegration techniques to reveal that the series are cointegrated in the long-run. In addition, the pooled mean group-panel autoregressive distributive lag (PMG-ARDL) approach is employed to estimate long-run coefficients. These coefficients confirm the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. Finally, the empirical findings confirm that improved productive capacity decreases environmental degradation. This results in important policy recommendations for involved governmental and private stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted structural shocks on the global economic system by raising high economic uncertainty. Policymakers are exploring alternative measures and incentivizing foreign direct investment for the restoration of global economic operations to achieve short- and long-term growth. Given this, the study examines the global response of FDI inflow to measure the change in productive capacity. The productive capacity is proxied by structural change, private business sector, institutional quality, transportation infrastructure development, and natural capital. The study implements empirical analysis for a large panel of 170 countries in a data set from 2000 to 2021. Furthermore, the study employed the cross-sectional augmented auto-regressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) econometric estimation method for better examinations of current changes in an economic outbreak. From the results of the study, the estimations reveal that FDI inward has significant positive impact over the private business sector, institutional quality, transportation infrastructure, and natural capital on inward FDI. In accordance with discussions, the study suggests several pragmatic policy implications to achieve maximum output by utilizing the inward FDI as incentivized by the governments of the selected countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to propose the rate of productive capacity utilization as the economic policy target to fight unemployment. The idea behind this proposal is aimed at re-installing the management of effective demand as the main tool to reduce unemployment. This proposal attempts to replace the dominant theoretical framework, based on the neo-Keynesian labor market, which imposes inflation as the main restriction to reduce unemployment. We asses our proposal using data of six economies and several econometric techniques. The results indicate that the percentage of productive capacity utilization can indeed be a good substitute of the rate of unemployment. Moreover, according to the results of our panel data estimations, we identify that effective demand variables, like capital accumulation, affect productive capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of the study was to assess the current state and evaluate the productivity of white poplar stands by natural zones within Ukraine and to define the prospects for their use for plantation forest cultivation. The objects of the study were white poplar stands in Ukrainian forests grown on the area of more than 7,600 hectares in various natural zones, namely Polissya (forest zone in Ukraine), Forest-Steppe, and Steppe. The study was carried out based on the analysis of forest inventory data (Ukrainian forest fund database) containing given stand characteristics such as origin, age, diameter, height, type of forest site conditions, etc. The characteristics were estimated by grouping the plots by age. The growth specificities (dynamics of the main mensuration characteristics) and the productive capacity of the white poplar stands were analyzed based on the developed tables. It was found that white poplar stands are mainly concentrated in Steppe and Forest-Steppe in Ukraine. The stands are of coppice or artificial origin; they grow in moist fairly fertile, fresh fairly fertile and moist fertile sites. The age distribution of the white poplar stands is severely imbalanced due to a significant predominance of stands aged over 40 years in all natural zones within Ukraine. More productive are the white poplar stands growing within Polissya and Forest-Steppe. The developed growth and productivity tables should be used when planning and prioritizing the relevant forestry interventions in white poplar stands.

The article examines the current state and economic trends in the functioning of the tourism industry of Pavlodar region. The object of the research is the economy of the Pavlodar region. In the course of the study, attention is focused on the dynamics of the nominal and real contribution of the tourism industry to the regional economy, the territorial distribution of tourism services and their structure in the context of types, trends in employment and labor productivity in the industry, production capacity and the state of their fixed capital. When assessing the real contribution of the tourism industry to the development of the regional economy, the dynamics of demand for tourism services from individuals and legal entities was investigated. For the development of the tourism industry in the region, an integrated analytical assessment of strategic investments has been made. Implementation of the developed investment policy makes it possible to significantly increase the volume of tourism services in the region, to strengthen the trends in the industry’s contribution to the economy. The results of the research can be used in the system of activities of regional, regional departments of tourism and sports in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Economic inequality in South America decreased steadily since 2002. However, as the beginning of the 2010s marked the end of the commodities boom in the region, economic inequality showed constant or even increasing rates in some of these countries. The decrease in economic inequality has often been related to the impact of the macro economic changes, like the boom of the commodity prices and the institutional reinforcement, and changes in the labor market. Therefore, the proposedhyphotesis is that productive capacity improvement of the less educated has played a key role in reducing inequality. Productive capacity takes into consideration three variables related to hard and soft skills to work, which are educational coverage, internet access and life conditions. Results show that, in addition to demand forces, the improvement of the productive capacity of the less educated is positively and significantly related to the reduction of inequality in South America in 2002–2011.

Economic inequality in South America decreased steadily since 2002. However, as the beginning of the 2010s marked the end of the commodities boom in the region, economic inequality showed constant or even increasing rates in some of these countries. The decrease in economic inequality has often been related to the impact of the macro economic changes, like the boom of the commodity prices and the institutional reinforcement, and changes in the labor market. Therefore, the proposedhyphotesis is that productive capacity improvement of the less educated has played a key role in reducing inequality. Productive capacity takes into consideration three variables related to hard and soft skills to work, which are educational coverage, internet access and life conditions. Results show that, in addition to demand forces, the improvement of the productive capacity of the less educated is positively and significantly related to the reduction of inequality in South America in 2002–2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the intertwined effects of geopolitical risk and globalization on productive capacity (the measure of economic cycles) in 20 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries from 2000 to 2021. The panel threshold regression and Driscoll-Kraay standard error estimations highlight the positive impact of globalization on productive capacity. Still, they are underscored by the negative effect of geopolitical risk. The study also unveils a synergistic relationship, demonstrating that the combined influence of globalization and geopolitical risk can amplify productive capacity under specific conditions. Government effectiveness and innovation have positive effects on productive capacities. These findings underscore the need for balanced policies that leverage global economic integration while ensuring geopolitical stability, and offering nuanced insights to guide strategic decision-making for sustained economic cycles. • Study the relationships among capacities, globalization, and geopolitical risk, unveiling nuanced environmental impacts. • Explores diverse metrics like Productive Capacities Index, Globalization Index, Geopolitical Index for comprehensive insights. • Employ robust empirical methods for in-depth understanding of economic and technological influences on the environment. • Offers insights for informed policymaking on sustainable development, environmental management, and global economic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was developed with the aim of determining the impact of the management process on the productive capacity and Mypes profitability of the mechanical metal industry of the Trujillo district, 2020. Mixed focus research, sequential explanatory design, cross-sectional, causal, correlational design and phenomenological design. The quantitative sample consists of 55 managers, managers and accountants; the qualitative sample consisted of 3 specialists in management processes. The survey technique was used with three Likert-scale questionnaires and the interviewer's technique with an interview guide. Descriptive statistics and correlation of Kendall and Spearman were used for quantitative analysis. The systematization matrix was used for qualitative analysis. It was determined that the management process significantly affects (P<0.01) the productive capacity and Mypes' profitability of the mechanical metal industry of the Trujillo district -- 2020. It was shown that 25% of the variation in production capacity and profitability were explained by the management process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is established that the competitiveness that is conditional on sets of institutions, policies and factors determining the country’s productivity transforms under the influence of challenges of sustainable development, which is reflected in international economic security strategies. The article’s objective is to investigate the compliance of the ideological foundations of the Sustained Development Goals with the assignment of productivity growth in countries. The research problem is to substantiate a stable causality between the Sustainable Development Goals and the economic security of countries and firms in the process of gaining new comparative advantages. The following research methods were used to achieve the objective and solve the problem covers a set of specific methods of empirical research, analysis and synthesis, abstraction, idealization, generalization and induction. The scientific novelty of the results is that the transformation potential of the sustainable development ideology and the resulting Sustainable Development Goals were investigated in the productivity context at macrolevel (country level) and mesolevel (firm level), which enabled: to establish the non-static nature of a comparative advantage under the influence of dialectic opposition of growth-based and development-based concepts in the economic security strategies of countries; to identify the increasing productive capacity as the fundamental interest of a country, going beyond the purely economic boundaries and overlapping with social, environmental and resource endowment dimensions; to classify the comprehensive development of a human, development of education and science, development of advanced machinery and technologies, science and technology progress, organizational and managerial improvements in the production as factors for development of productive forces.

Maternal gut microflora changes dramatically during perinatal period and plays a vital role in animal health and reproductive performance. However, little is known about the microbial differences between sows with different productive capacities during perinatal period. Hence, this study explored fecal microbial diversity, composition, metabolic functions, and phenotypes differences between high productive capacity (HPC, litter size ≥ 15) and low productive capacity (LPC, litter size ≤ 7) sows during late pregnancy (LP, the third day before due date) and early stage after parturition (EAP, the third day after parturition) as well as serum biochemical indices differences after parturition. Results showed that HPC sows had lower microbial richness at LP stage and higher microbial diversity at EAP stage than LPC sows. Several genera belonging to the Prevotellaceae family exhibited higher abundance, while some genera belonging to the Ruminococcaceae family exhibited lower abundance in HPC sows compared to LPC sows at LP stage. Moreover, the relative abundance of Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 in HPC sows was significantly higher than that in LPC sows at EAP stage. The predicted metabolic functions related to Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis were significantly higher in HPC sows at LP stage. Further, HPC sows had significantly higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels after parturition, and there were strong correlations between BUN level and the relative abundance of genera belonging to the Ruminococcaceae families. These results indicated that the HPC sows may experience greater inflammation than LPC sows at LP stage. Inflammation environment might impact health but promote parturition. The microbial differences at EAP stage might be beneficial to hemostasis and anti-inflammation, which might contribute to postpartum recovery in HPC sow.

Conceptual-methodological and economic bases of plantation forest growing are developed. The mathematical models of the dynamics of the productivity of stands of different tree species in the rich types of the forest-growing conditions of the Middle Volga region, their commodity structure, the stumpage cost and the market price of timber are presented. The algorithm of actions for managing forestry on cultivation of forest plantations is offered. It is noted that in the conditions of fresh dubrava (oak forest) and sudubrava (fresh oak and pine forest), pine and larch stands are the most productive. It is concluded that, taking into account the stumpage cost and the market price of timber, it is most profitable in this region of Russia, in oak forest types of forest conditions, to grow plantations of English oak Quercus robur L., in sudubrava conditions it’s more profitable to grow plantations of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L., the Siberian larch Larix sibirica Ledeb., and tillet Tilia cordata Mill. In wet, near floodplain and short-flooded ecotopes, it is promising to grow European ash Fraxinus excelsior L. and high-grade poplar Populus crops. Less economic benefit in the current socio-economic conditions will be in the creation of plantations of common spruce Picea abies (L.) H. Karst, aspen Populus tremula L., and weeping birch Betula pendula Roth. The culmination of the average annual increment of the stand stumpage cost, which attests to the age of economic maturity, first occurs in aspen forests (at 45 years), and later – in spruce stands (at 70 years). In oak forests it occurs at the age of 65 years, in tillet stands and in larch crops – at 60 years, in birch forests – at 55 years, in pine crops – at 50 years. In the production of forest raw material plantations, the initial density is of great importance, the optimal values of which are determined by the tree species, the assortment and the economic efficiency of cultivation. Increasing the productivity of the stands and accelerating the process of forest growing is possible with the help of agrotechnical, meliorative and silvicultural measures, applying them considering forest growing conditions and the targeted purpose of plantations.

Maternal gut microflora changes dramatically during perinatal period and plays a vital role in animal health and reproductive performance. However, little is known about the microbial differences between sows with different productive capacities during perinatal period. Hence, this study explored fecal microbial diversity, composition, metabolic functions, and phenotypes differences between high productive capacity (HPC, litter size ≥ 15) and low productive capacity (LPC, litter size ≤ 7) sows during late pregnancy (LP, the third day before due date) and early stage after parturition (EAP, the third day after parturition) as well as serum biochemical indices differences after parturition. Results showed that HPC sows had lower microbial richness at LP stage and higher microbial diversity at EAP stage than LPC sows. Several genera belonging to the Prevotellaceae family exhibited higher abundance, while some genera belonging to the Ruminococcaceae family exhibited lower abundance in HPC sows compared to LPC sows at LP stage. Moreover, the relative abundance of Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 in HPC sows was significantly higher than that in LPC sows at EAP stage. The predicted metabolic functions related to Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis were significantly higher in HPC sows at LP stage. Further, HPC sows had significantly higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels after parturition, and there were strong correlations between BUN level and the relative abundance of genera belonging to the Ruminococcaceae families. These results indicated that the HPC sows may experience greater inflammation than LPC sows at LP stage. Inflammation environment might impact health but promote parturition. The microbial differences at EAP stage might be beneficial to hemostasis and anti-inflammation, which might contribute to postpartum recovery in HPC sow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is based on a critical analysis of oil exploitation as public policy: firstly, the Constitutional and legal regulations that allow for oil exploitation activities to be carried out and the institutions that administrate these activities are examined; secondly, the characteristics of oil exploitation in regards to territorial appropriation, the linking of oil incomes with economic development, and the environmental impacts are analyzed. Under this framework, the expansion of oil extraction borders as part of Ecuadorian extractive oil policy is examined.. Lastly, in a rule of law and justice State that favors human and environmental rights, a need to rethink this public policy is seen, given the less than positive balance upon its implementation.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate ways of improving the performance of some consumer cooperative businesses in Hamedan province, Iran, through redesigning their productive capacity. In this descriptive applied survey research, two questionnaires were designed: one to collect the opinions of the managers of the cooperatives (n1 = 82) and the other for their members as consumers (n2 = 160). The validity of the instruments was ensured by a panel comprised of scholars from Bu-Ali Sina University and experts from the provincial bureau of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare, while their reliability was calculated to be 0.78 and 0.93 using the Cronbach’s alpha via two separate pilot studies. To analyze the data collected from the questionnaires and to further investigate the construct validity of the cooperatives' business performance in the proposed model, a confirmatory factor analysis was done and SPSS and LISRELsoft ware programs were utilized respectively. Meanwhile, the goodness of fit indicators confirmed the consistency of the proposed model with the field evidence. From the viewpoint of the managers, the following factors account for 64.59 percent of the improved business performance of cooperatives: (1) legal and financial protections, (2) physical facilities, (3) personnel motivation, (4) goods quality improvement, (5) marketing/advertising, and (6) trust building amongst managers and staff. Nevertheless, the customers mentioned that the following features could largely improve the cooperatives' business performance: (1) being quality-based and customer-based, (2) advertising and informing, (3) behavior of personnel, (4) improving some physical factors, and (5) developing electronic services.

This study analyzes the complementarity of foreign technology acquired under license agreements, technology embedded in machinery and equipment and increase in a company’s productive capacity. We use panel data on Brazilian manufacturing companies from the World Bank Surveys. We used the random effects models, estimated by maximum likelihood. The results indicate that foreign technology, embedded technology and increase of productive capacity have a positive and significant impact on labor productivity. The complementarity test reveals that the relationship between the two technologies analyzed is conditionally substitutive and that the relationship between each of these technologies and increase of productive capacity is conditionally complementary.

This study analyzes the complementarity of foreign technology acquired under license agreements, technology embedded in machinery and equipment and increase in a company’s productive capacity. We use panel data on Brazilian manufacturing companies from the World Bank Surveys. We used the random effects models, estimated by maximum likelihood. The results indicate that foreign technology, embedded technology and increase of productive capacity have a positive and significant impact on labor productivity. The complementarity test reveals that the relationship between the two technologies analyzed is conditionally substitutive and that the relationship between each of these technologies and increase of productive capacity is conditionally complementary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different from previous studies which examine the relationship between either separate parameters or drivers of economic development and ecological sustainability, this study employs the productive capacity index to provide a holistic understanding into the ecological impacts of improving the productive sources of a nation. It also considers the increasingly importance role of green financial policy in lessening the ecological degradation under an uncertain economic and political environment. We adopt advanced panel quantile regression to three samples of 34 high-, 17 upper middle-, and 17 lower middle-income countries from 2000 to 2018. The empirical results show the existence of N-shaped, inverted N-shaped, and U-shaped relationship between productive capacity and ecological footprint in high-, upper middle-, and lower middle-income country groups, respectively. Meanwhile, green financial policy is found to generate beneficial effect on the quality of the ecology in all panels. Uncertainty reduces ecological degradation in high- and upper middle-income countries but intensifies ecological ruin in lower middle-income countries. This complicated relationship between variables of interest warns policymakers to adopt suitable economic and political policies that can deal with both severe ecological degradation and raising uncertainty. Finding the presence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) at different levels of development and the presence of the turnaround points within the sample ranges also validates the EKC hypothesis to be a policy benchmarking tool for developing effective environmental policies at the global level. This study outcomes have been utilized to develop Sustainable Development Goals oriented policy framework. • We employ productive capacity index for ecological impact assessment. • We adopt advanced panel quantile regression. • Our study is on high-, upper middle-, 17 lower middle-income countries. • Study is done from 2000 to 2018. • Results show different productive capacity-ecological footprint associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pesar que la identificación de la capacidad productiva es de vital importancia en los sistemas productivos y aunque existen estudios desarrollados en diversos sectores, tanto de producción como de servicio, es escasa la investigación referente a la identificación de la capacidad en restaurantes de fabricación masiva, que involucran producción y servicio al cliente, al mismo tiempo. En este artículo, se desarrolló una metodología para determinar la capacidad en estos restaurantes, asociada a un conjunto de menús denominados ''menú tipo''. En la metodología, se presentó -de manera esquemática-, las actividades a realizar y se validó la propuesta; para la agrupación de almuerzos, se utilizó la técnica de clustering; al final, la capacidad es determinada haciendo uso de un modelo de programación lineal. Se encontró que el tiempo de servicio en barra y el tiempo de consumo del almuerzo son los factores que más afectan la capacidad del restaurante.